The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it would dispatch vehicles to provide free rides to commuters amid an impending strike by some transport groups next week.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, in a presser at Camp Crame, said their mobility assets would augment other vehicles to be provided by other government agencies.

“Habang nagpapatrol yung mga pulis natin sa daan at may matitiyempuhan dyan na kasama kayo sa naapektuhan ng transport strike, parahin niyo lang yung mga patrol vehicles ng PNP at aalalayan at bibigyan kayo ng assistance para makarating doon sa inyong mga patutunguhan (While our police officers are on patrols and they chance upon passengers who are affected by this transport strike, just hail PNP patrol vehicles and these would provide assistance to you in going to your destination),” she said.

She added that they are communicating with transport groups regarding this matter, stressing that the PNP respects their freedom to air their grievances against the government.

“This early ay nakikipag ugnayan na tayo sa transport groups para mabigyan din natin sila ng protection at maidentify yung mga possible rally areas nila para hindi naman ito maging cause ng traffic obstruction or traffic congestion. Ibibigay natin sa kanila ang araw na yan but of course we will exercise maximum tolerance para naman hindi magkaroon ng anumang gulo kung darating yung araw na talagang magra-rally sila sa mga kalsada nila (This early, we are contacting the transport groups so that we can also provide them with protection and identify their possible rally areas so that it does not cause traffic obstruction or traffic congestion. We will give them that day, but of course, we will exercise maximum tolerance so that there will not be any trouble on the day when they will actually hold rallies on the roads),” Fajardo said.

On Thursday, transport groups Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) and Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) announced a nationwide transport strike next week.

This came a day after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the April 30 deadline for the franchise consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUV) under the government’s transport modernization program would no longer be extended.

Marcos assured that the program will not be a burden to the drivers and operators as he noted the government subsidy for modern PUVs.

Under the program, drivers/operators will receive government subsidy, which is between PHP200,000 and PHP300,000 per vehicle, to help them cope financially. They will also be assisted for bank financing transactions.

As of March this year, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said 80 percent of PUVs in the country have complied with the consolidation policy. (PNA)